Siskiyou County wins $23.7 million BHCIP award for new behavioral health clinic; county must provide 10% match

Siskiyou County officials on April 21 presented details of a conditional $23.7 million Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2 award to build a new mental health and substance use outpatient clinic on county-owned property on Moonlit Oaks Drive in Yreka.

Health and Human Services Agency Director Sarah Collard introduced Program Manager Maddelyn Bryan and MHSA Coordinator Sarah Evans, who said the award came through the statewide BHCIP competitive process established under Proposition 1 and the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), which replaced the Mental Health Services Act. Bryan said the project will require a 10% county funding match and outlined early conceptual site and building plans.

Board members and presenters discussed an anticipated June 2029 completion date, the size of the facility, and an upcoming process to select and engage an architect. The presentation emphasized the need to incorporate public- and staff-safety measures and confidentiality protections into the facility design, and presenters characterized the award as a significant competitive success for the county.

The presentation did not include a finalized budget breakdown beyond the award amount and the stated 10% match requirement; Bryan said more detailed cost estimates and architect-led designs will be developed during the next phase. No vote or formal adoption was required; the item was a presentation and discussion only.

Next steps identified by staff include advancing architect selection, refining cost estimates to quantify the 10% match in dollars, and integrating safety and confidentiality measures into design planning. Officials said they would return to the Board with procurement and project timeline milestones as those details are developed.